Lyr Req: Angel's Serenade

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Angel's Serenade
From: Robby
Date: 04 Sep 02 - 03:45 PM

Many thanks, Jim and Ed.
After almost two years, I had forgotten about this request. I appreciate you taking the time to provide the lyrics and a location for a MIDI.
Robby

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Angel's Serenade
From: Warsaw Ed
Date: 27 Aug 02 - 11:00 PM

Look also for MIDI and printable sheet music at: http:/www.web-helper.net/PDMusic/A/images/btsa0040.gif The larger MIDI seems to be the right tune. Enjoy! Ed

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Angel's Serenade
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 27 Aug 02 - 05:07 PM

Transcribed from the sheet music at http://scriptorium.lib.duke.edu/sheetmusic/n/n11/n1177/

LA LEGGENDA VALACCA / LÉGENDE VALAQUE
(Gaetano Braga, 1867)

O quali mi risvegliano
Dolcissimi concenti
Non li odi o mamma giungere
Coll'alitar dè venti
Fatti al veron ten supplico
E dimmi donde parte questo suon.

[La madre:] Io nulla veggo calmati non odo voce alcuna
Fuorche il fugente zeffiro il raggio della luna
d'una canzon, o povera ammalata
chi vuoi che t'erga il suon no!

[La figlia:] No! no! non è mortal
la musica che a scolto che a scolto o madre mia
Ella mi sembra mi sembra d'angeli
Festosa melodia ov'el li son mi chiamano
O mamma buona notte io seguo il suon, io seguo il suon.
La musica che a scolto che a scolto o madre mia
Ella mi sembra mi sembra d'angeli
Festosa melodia ov'elli son mi chiamano
O mamma buona notte io seguo il suon, io seguo il suon
Io seguo il suon
Io seguo il suon
Io seguo il suon
Io seguo il suon.

ANGEL'S SERENADE
[English version by H. Millard.]

What sounds are those that waken me,
Sweet accents low and tender?
Hear'st thou not, dearest mother, floating by?
What can such sounds engender?
Look out abroad, I pray thee now,
And tell me from whence come those lovely strains.

[The mother:] Nothing is there, my darling child,
Only the night winds sighing,
Only the evening's zephyrs light,
As past the pale moon flying.
No song I hear. Thou'rt dreaming, darling daughter.
No one is here. No one near, no!

[The child:] No! no! 'tis not like strains that mortals know.
O mother, now listen. Thine ear incline.
'Tis like the spell, 'tis like the spell good angels throw
In melody divine. To where they are, they tell me come.
O mother, dearest mother, that sound I hear, I follow on.
Those heavenly strains.
O mother, now listen. Thine ear incline.
'Tis like the spell, 'tis like the spell good angels throw
In melody divine. To where they are, they tell me come.
O mother, dearest mother, that sound I hear, I follow on.
I follow on.
I follow on.
I follow on.
I follow on.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Angel's Serenade
From: masato sakurai
Date: 26 Aug 02 - 11:21 PM

Sheet music for Gaetano Braga's ""Angel's Serenade" (1867) (with Italian & English lyrics) is in Historic American Sheet Music, 1850-1920. There's another edition ("Angel's serenade - La Serenata") in the collection.

~Masato

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Angel's Serenade
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 26 Aug 02 - 08:06 PM

According to http://www.jump.net/~pwworth/alph-am.html (plus some other sources):

"The Angel's Serenade", which John McCormick recorded in 1914, was an English translation from the Italian "La Leggenda Valacca", composed in 1867 by Gaetano Braga (1829-1907) with lyrics by M. M. Marcello. The Italian lyrics begin "O quali mi risvegliano".

AMG/All Music Guide lists 3 albums that contain McCormack's recording:

"Ireland My Ireland" Pro Arte CD CDD-476, 1991.
"More Rarities" Rego Irish CD 3960, 1996.
"Minstrel Boy" ASV/Living Era CD 5224, 1997.

The "Minstrel Boy" album is listed on CDNOW with a sound sample. However, the recording quality is so poor it was very difficult to make out any words. Here's the best I could do:

"Whose songs are those that waken me,
Sweet ... and tender
If thou not be ... floating by
Naught can such sounds..."

The tune was used as a theme for the "Amos 'n' Andy" TV show. The recording made for that purpose featured a choir vocalizing "Ah-ah-ah..."--no words. It is included in the album "Television's Greatest Hits, Vol. 4" 1996.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Angel's Serenade
From: Robby
Date: 10 Oct 00 - 11:00 AM

Thanks, once again, Pene.

While the John McCormack Home Page does not have any lyrics link itself, nor a message board, I did make contact with someone who was able to provide me with the lyrics to the song, as sung by John McCormack, which are different from any other English translation of the song from the original Italian.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Angel's Serenade
From: Robby
Date: 09 Oct 00 - 05:53 PM

Sorcha, it is the one aby Braga. I had no idea it was the theme song of Amos N Andy. Thus, I doubt it is the Bossa Nova version.

Pene, I know the McCormack home page shows this song as being recorded by John McCormack in 1914 for RCA Victor, which is the information on the label. However, I had no idea that a type of message board was also available at that site. I'll go there now and see what I can find.

Thanks again.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Angel's Serenade
From: Pene Azul
Date: 09 Oct 00 - 03:03 PM

Maybe you contact someone through The John McCormack Home Page.

Jeff

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Angel's Serenade
From: Sorcha
Date: 09 Oct 00 - 02:53 PM

There is a little info at this site that says it was wordless, but "vocalized", if it is the same song.

Is the one you are looking for Brazilian/Bossa Nova? If so, it may be on a CD available here. You could buy a new copy.........

This site Click also has it for sale. No luck finding lyrics.

Subject: Angel's Serenade
From: Robby
Date: 09 Oct 00 - 01:52 PM

Strictly speaking, I guess this isn't folk or blues, but if anyone can help, I'd appreciate it.
I have a a 12-inch 78 rpm (yep. As big as a vinyl LP, but with only one song per side). It was recorded in 1914 by John McCormack on the RCA Victor label. I have been to music stores and so many web sites that I've lost count, looking for lyrics. The record plays fairly well, but the lyrics are virtually inaudible.
Does anyone know the lyrics?

Thanks--Robby